25 Tempting Music Apps for the iPad

What would it take to tempt you to grab an iPad? These 25 apps might just whet your appetite. And if you can't afford to buy an iPad, read on for how you can win one in AudioJungle's new competition.

When iPads were first announced, we asked whether they would revolutionize music production. We - and many of you - couldn't see it becoming the hub of our musical world, but thought that it might be a good peripheral device or controller.

Well, they've been out for a while now, and it's time to round up a list of useful audio apps. How have they influenced your music making?

Win an iPad in AudioJungle's iPad Treasure Hunt

AudioJungle have turned two, and to celebrate they are giving away an iPad and other prizes. To win, take part in an iPad Treasure Hunt around the AudioJungle Music Library. It's all very tricky, and the competition closes on Monday May 31st, so you'll have to hurry.

First prize is a 16GB Apple iPad, while the runner up wins $150 of AudioJungle marketplace credit. Head over to this thread in the AudioJungle forum to learn more.

Why would you want to win an iPad? Well, it's a lot more fun than buying one. And you'll find another 25 cool reasons below if you keep reading.

1. Pianist Pro

Cost: $19.99

"Pianist, the original iPhone piano, turns Professional in an all new iPad-only app with photo-realistic graphics and an unbelievable sound."

3. Pro Keys

4. Magic Piano

Cost: $0.99

"Play timeless pieces on spiral and circular keyboards, or follow beams of light - mastery requires only imagination. Play alone, or travel through a warp hole and play Piano Roulette with other performers across the world."

5. Guitar Lab

6. iElectribe

Cost: $19.99

"Korg's ELECTRIBE.R has been coveted by dance musicians for ten years running. Today, this indispensable instrument has been born as a dedicated iPad app - the KORG iELECTRIBE virtual analog beatbox! The regular price is US$19.99; a special introductory price of US$19.99 is being offered until June 30, 2010."

8. Piano Accordio Pro

Cost: $3.99

"Awesome piano accordion! If there is one musical instrument that fits perfectly into the iPad's big screen, you've just found it. Piano Accordio Pro sounds like a traditional punchy Italian accordion. It is designed to be exceptionally responsive and fun to play."

11. SunVox

12. bleep!BOX

Cost: $19.99

"bleep!BOX is a combination of drum machine and synthesizer box for your iPhone or iPod Touch. bleep!BOX has no samples - every sound is generated in realtime, so you can tweak to your heart's content and kiss repetitive, cookie cutter drum beats and loops goodbye. bleep!BOX is not a simple toy - it's powerful enough for you to make real music."

16. Drum Meister Grand

17. forScore

Cost: $4.99

The Musical Score Reader for iPad. "forScore was designed as a way to take thousands of pages of score with you on the go. With innovative features like the audible and visual metronome, forScore is more than just a PDF reader - it's an intiutive experience."

18. ProRemote

Cost: $99.99

"ProRemote is the world's first 32-channel touch-sensitive control surface that fits in the palm of your hand. ProRemote allows you to control your audio applications wirelessly using your existing wifi network. Get realtime meter data and control your rig."

19. ELECTRIFY

Cost: $14.99

"ELECTRIFY is a virtual sample-based Groovebox for your iPad. It was designed to combine the best features of existing hardware groveboxes and the ease of use of software applications in one creative touchable app."

20. AC-7 Pro Control Surface

21. StudioTrack

Cost: $39.99

"StudioTrack is a songwriting tool for musicians who want to capture musical ideas and record songs on their iPad. StudioTrack works with the iPad built-in microphone and headphones. WiFi sync allows StudioTrack recordings to be downloaded to any desktop computer with a browser. Tracks can then be loaded into any recording software (DAW) to continue working on songs."

22. TabToolkit

Cost: $19.99

"TabToolkit is an incredibly powerful guitar tablature and music notation viewer, now with multi-track playback! An essential tool for learning and practising music, TabToolkit includes an audio synthesis engine so you can listen to and control the audio for all tracks individually."

23. Nota HD

Cost: $7.99

"As seen on Apple's iPad TV commercial, Gizmodo, CNet, TUAW and Smoking Apples! Nota is a set of indispensable tools for musicians at any level. It has a piano chord and scale browser, a piano and staff note locator, a note quiz and a reference library with over 100 symbols."

24. iSequence

25. iRig

Cost: $39.99

A hardware/software solution for rocking out with your guitar or bass. Macworld explain:

"The first part of iRig is a small hardware adapter that lets you plug your guitar into your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. It also has a one-eight-inch jack for plugging in headphones or running out to an amp or powered speakers.

"Once you get your guitar and device set up, the AmpliTube for iPhone software becomes the real headliner. This app combines customizable stombox effects and amplifiers for making your guitar or bass sound like just about whatever you want. It comes in three editions, too: Free, LE, and Full. AmpliTube’s Free and LE versions come with different sets of effects and amps, and musicians can use in-app purchases to add more effects packages. If you want to go all-out, the Full version includes all effects and amps."

Conclusion

If you're contemplating buying an iPad, which of these apps do you find most tempting? Do you think an iPad will make you a more productive music producer?

Do you already own an iPad? Which audio apps do you find most compelling or useful? Which of your favorite apps have we left out?

In Australia we have to wait another week until we even see an iPad. I'm still on the fence about whether to buy one or not. What can you say to push me over the edge one way or the other. Let us know in the comments.